Know a deserving journalist who soldiers on through cutbacks to tell the truth? Get the story, photo or video? Whose dedication to our craft is second to none? Or is that journalist you? For the past 26 years, the Northern California Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists has selected from among the Bay Area's best of the best for its acclaimed Excellence in Journalism Awards. These awards honor the journalists whose work best reflects the SPJ ideals of initiative, integrity, talent and compassion.

This year marks two significant changes to the awards: categories and entries. The board voted to realign the categories to reflect changes in journalism: Print/Text, Radio/Audio, TV/Video and Multimedia. Some categories will also be subdivided into daily and non-daily. The six special Board of Directors Awards will remain the same: Journalist of the Year, Career Achievement, Distinguished Service, Unsung Hero, Meritorious SPJ Service and the Silver Heart.

The change to an online-only format, a first for this chapter, is one that we hope will make the contest process easier and faster. We will no longer accept mailed entries. The contest entry site will feature a one-stop shop for all your contest needs, including a short video with detailed, step-by-step instructions. All entrants need to do is create an account, and the site will walk you through the rest. As with all product launches, however, we anticipate a few kinks along the way. We thank you in advance for your patience as we make this important transition and would appreciate your feedback. The site — www.awards.spjnorcal.org — is set to go live by Aug. 6.

Details and rules below. Deadline Aug. 19. Best of luck!

Instructions:

Stories must have been published between July 1, 2010, and June 30, 2011, by a news outlet or individuals based in Northern California.

Honors individuals or teams that identify important issues and demonstrate initiative, persistence and resourcefulness pursuing information that is restricted or not easily available.

Entry specifications: Submit one story or series of related stories.

Categories: Daily and non-daily in Print/Text, Radio/Audio, TV/Video and Multimedia.

EXPLANATORY JOURNALISM

Honors journalists who increase readers' and/or viewers' understanding of significant or complex issues. Entries may add understanding to issues in the news or may focus on issues largely uncovered by the media.

Entry specifications: Submit one story or series of related stories.

Categories: Daily and non-daily in Print/Text, Radio/Audio, TV/Video and Multimedia.

COMMUNITY JOURNALISM

Honoring journalists and organizations whose primary focus is coverage of a well-defined small community or neighborhood. Entries may include print publications, news broadcasts or news sites. University-supported projects are not eligible. Entry specifications: This is for community-based outlets. Submit no more than five news stories or packages demonstrating the range and depth of local news coverage.

Categories: Print/Text, Radio/Audio, TV/Video and Multimedia.

FEATURE STORYTELLING

Honors journalists for exceptional writing that demonstrates originality of approach. Judges will consider humor or drama evoked, style, clarity of writing and suitability of the writing to the subject.

Entry specifications: Submit story or series.

Categories: Daily and non-daily in Print/Text, Radio/Audio, TV/Video and Multimedia.

COMMENTARY/ANALYSIS

Honors individuals for exceptional writing of commentary, analysis and editorials. Print entries may include bylined or unsigned editorials and columns. Online entries may include news-related blogs. Judges will consider quality of writing, clarity of analysis and originality of approach.

Entry specifications: Submit up to three samples

Categories: Print/Text, Radio/Audio, TV/Video and Multimedia.

ARTS & CULTURE REPORTING

Honors journalists for incisive reporting about art, music, movies, theater, dance, books, restaurants, architecture or other public performance. May also include reviews. Judges will consider quality of analysis and persuasiveness of arguments.

Entry specifications: Submit up to three samples

Categories: Daily and non-daily in Print/Text, Radio/Audio, TV/Video and Multimedia.

JOURNALISM INNOVATION

Honors individuals or organizations that have demonstrated innovative ways to further the goals of journalism, using online tools, new funding strategies and/or other approaches; entrants should demonstrate how innovation has led to unique coverage.

Entry specifications: Submit up to three samples showing how this innovation works.

Categories: All media.

PHOTOJOURNALISM

Limited to 3 separate submissions of not more than 15 images each. Include the written story or explanation:

1) Newspaper stories/essays/features (for stories published either in print or on a paper's website)

2) Magazine stories/essays/features (for stories published in print or on the magazine's website)

Honors a journalist with less than five years of professional experience whose work shows great promise. Entry specifications: Submit resume and three samples of work.

Categories: All media

STUDENT SPECIAL PROJECT

Honors individuals or classes of college-level students for exemplary reporting, writing, and/or photography produced by all forms of student media, including special projects that report local news. These should be student-generated and not part of an ongoing university-sponsored project. Entry specifications: Submit up to three samples.

Categories: All media

PUBLIC SERVICE

Honors individuals, teams, or news organizations that try to improve conditions for the benefit of society. Entries will be judged on the significance of the issues, evidence of initiative, effectiveness of presentation and results obtained or pledged.

Entry specifications: May include project articles, editorials, public service announcements, cartoons, photos, graphics and online material.

Categories: All media

NORCAL SPJ BOARD OF DIRECTORS' AWARDS CATEGORIES:

(A nomination letter is required; also see online instructions)

Journalist of the Year: For extraordinary journalistic contributions in the past year.

Career Achievement: For extraordinary achievements exemplifying the highest standards of the profession.

*To be eligible for the $30 member entry fee, you must be a member of both the SPJ national organization (current price $72) AND the SPJ Northern California chapter ($20) at the time-stamp of entry. Membership is good for 12 months, based on the date you joined. Chapter membership entitles you to free or reduced member admission to NorCal chapter activities, including the Excellence in Journalism Awards dinner. See www.spj.org/join.asp to join SPJ and the NorCal chapter.